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Acrobatic gymnasts stand out at World Championships in Pesaro

Azerbaijan’s junior acrobatic gymnasts have won two medals at the 30th Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships in Pesaro, Italy.

The country was represented by a men’s group comprising Yusif Huseynzade, Rasul Amiraslanov, Timur Khamidulin and Sarkhan Aghayev, a women’s pair of Hokuma Aliyeva and Fidan Rashidova, and a women’s group featuring Aylin Mammadova, Ayan Hajili and Firuza Gasimzade.

The men’s and women’s groups successfully advanced from the qualification round to the final.

In the decisive stage, the women’s group of Aylin Mammadova, Ayan Hajili and Firuza Gasimzade scored 27.650 points to claim the silver medal.

The men’s group of Yusif Huseynzade, Rasul Amiraslanov, Timur Khamidulin and Sarkhan Aghayev earned the bronze medal with 27.200 points.

It was the first participation of Azerbaijan’s junior men’s gymnasts in the 30th Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships and their first medal at the event.

The 30th Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships are being held in Pesaro, Italy, from September 24 to 27, 2026, at the Vitrifrigo Arena.

The event is organized under World Gymnastics and is one of the sport’s major international competitions.

The championships feature competitions in men’s pairs, women’s pairs, mixed pairs, men’s groups and women’s groups, with 252 acrobats from 30 countries listed for the event.

Okorocha builds new Ohanaeze headquarters, sets four-week handover

Former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha has said the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide headquarters in Enugu will be completed and handed over to the organisation within the next three to four weeks.

Okorocha, who financed and facilitated the construction of the new headquarters, said the remaining work included the removal of the existing structure and completion of the landscaping before the facility could be formally handed over.

He spoke on Tuesday during a visit by Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu State, to inspect the new headquarters, which is nearing completion.

According to Okorocha, the building was conceived after he visited the old Ohanaeze secretariat several years ago and concluded that the facility was inadequate for the organisation.

‘I was here some years ago and I saw the building called the Igbo Secretary. I felt that it was not sufficient enough, so I decided to seek permission from Ohanaeze and put up this building for my people,’ he said.

Okorocha said the project was not driven by personal wealth or an attempt to showcase affluence, but by his desire to create a permanent institutional home for the Igbo socio-cultural organisation. ‘It is simply my heart speaking, the heart of love for my people,’ he said.

He said the new headquarters should provide Ohanaeze with a stronger platform to articulate the interests of Igbo people and change what he described as longstanding misconceptions about the group.

‘We have often been misunderstood and misrepresented by the entire world. This is the time to correct that and let the world know who we are: that we are peace-loving people, hardworking people and people who love progress,’ the former governor stated.

Four-week handover

The former governor said the physical structure was substantially complete, with landscaping and the removal of the old structure among the remaining tasks.

‘I think that in about three or four weeks, this place will be ready. The Ohanaeze president-general and the governor of the state will arrange the commissioning,’ he said.

The former governor said his role would end with the formal handover of the facility to Ohanaeze, after which the organisation and the state government would determine how the remaining aspects of the project would be handled.

For Okorocha, the ultimate measure of the project is not simply the size or appearance of the building, but what future generations make of it.

‘I want young Igbo people who encounter the facility in the next 15 years to 20 years to leave with a stronger understanding of their roots and identity and I want the pride of being Igbo to be restored,’ he added.

Senator John Azuta-Mbata, president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, described the project as a significant contribution to the organisation and the wider Igbo community.

He thanked Okorocha and the Rochas Foundation for what he described as a deliberate effort to provide a permanent institutional facility for Ohanaeze.

‘We are already at the threshold of opening this building,’ Azuta-Mbata said, adding that the facility would stand as a legacy for future leadership of the organisation.

He said the headquarters would strengthen Ohanaeze’s ability to represent, support and defend the interests of Igbo people. ‘This will remain and stand as a legacy to the General Assembly and the leadership of Ohanaeze to continue doing everything we can to protect the ideals of the organisation,’ he said.

More than an administrative headquarters

The new building is being designed to serve functions beyond conventional administrative offices.

Uloma Rochas-Nwosu, managing director of Walsh Blanc, the design firm involved in the project, said the facility was conceived as a space that would combine administration, cultural preservation, education and public engagement.

She said Okorocha’s plan was to create a building that would tell the story of the Igbo people while providing a sense of pride and belonging.

One of the key features is a memorabilia section in the basement, where audiovisual materials, artworks, documentaries and historical information are expected to preserve and communicate aspects of Igbo history.

The facility also includes about 11 offices, including offices for the president-general, deputy president-general, an ICT office and conference rooms.

Rochas-Nwosu said the building’s design incorporated seven pillars and seven lights, representing the seven Igbo-speaking states.

The project also includes two amphitheatres, one of which incorporates Igbo-themed imagery, while red and white elements have been used to reflect aspects of Igbo heritage.

‘The idea is that the walls themselves will speak to you when you come in. You should get a sense that you are in the Igbo nation and understand what the space represents,’ she said.

For Okorocha, however, the significance of the new headquarters extends beyond its physical structure.

He said he expects the secretariat to develop a stronger role in supporting Igbos living outside Nigeria, particularly those who encounter legal or other difficulties abroad.

‘The organisation should be positioned to intervene when Igbo people in countries such as China, the United States and Singapore face problems. Many of our children have been molested abroad, maltreated, jailed and imprisoned, and they often appear to have nobody to cater for them or speak on their behalf.

‘So this secretariat is going to take a new direction. It is not only about Igbos here; it is mostly about Igbos in the diaspora, giving them a sense of belonging,’ he affirmed.

He said he expected the Ohanaeze leadership to use the new headquarters as a bridge between the organisation and Igbo communities across the world.

Peter Mbah, who inspected the facility, said the project represented a reminder of the shared roots of Igbo people and the need for greater unity.

He commended the Okorocha for the project, adding that the location of the facility in Enugu was significant given the state’s position within the Igbo cultural and institutional landscape.

Mbah said he expected the formal commissioning to take place in the coming days or weeks once the remaining work was completed.

With construction now at its final stage, the focus has shifted from building the physical structure to determining how Ohanaeze will use the new facility to expand its administrative, cultural and diaspora-facing functions after the planned handover.

UNILAG postgraduate student launches edtech platform to expand learning access

UNILAG Postgraduate student launches an educational technology platform designed to expand access to quality learning through engaging, curriculum-aligned digital content, adding to the university’s growing entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The Étude mobile application, developed by WalterSam Global Technologies Ltd, was unveiled on Friday at the Bank of Industry UNILAG Incubation and Co-Working Hub at the university’s Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre, Akoka.

Giving the welcome address at the event, Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, represented by Adebayo Onigbanjo, National Project Coordinator of the Student Venture Capital Grant (SVCG), described the launch of Etude not merely as a private success, but as living proof of a national strategy.

‘Through the Student Venture Capital Grant (SVCG), forty-five students were identified as future innovators and founders in Nigeria.

‘And one of those companies was Waltersam Technologies, which received an investment capital fund of 50 million Naira equity-free grant fully funded by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’

Speaking on redesigning education for the next generation, Afolabi Lesi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Developmental Services), said, ‘Reimagining education isn’t about replacing the classroom with technology. It’s about expanding what the classroom can become.’

‘It’s about creating learning experiences that are more accessible, more engaging, and more responsive to the diverse needs of today’s learners.’ He added.

Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, board chairman, National Universities Commission (NUC), described the unveiling as proof of what happens when a young person refuses to wait for perfect conditions.

‘The idea you have now does not require you to be overly concerned about what other people are saying or thinking about it,’ he said.

‘What you need is the courage to run with it,’ he added.

He urged young people to prioritise developing valuable skills over money, stressing that building valuable skills and demonstrating potential would eventually attract the resources needed to grow.

Idris Ibikunle, board chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), urged that the launch celebration was only the beginning, and that true success would be measured not by applause but by Etude’s ability to endure, evolve, and remain relevant over time.

Samuel Olamilekan Johnson, CEO of Waltersam Technologies, shared how he and his team turned the personal struggles he faced after secondary school into a six-year journey of building a mobile learning platform designed to improve the quality of learning for students.

Oluwafemi Seun Paul, the chief technical officer, together with other members of the Étude team, delivered the product presentation and demonstrated the key features of the mobile application.

The launch brought together key stakeholders, including Agunsoye Olumuyiwa Johnson, dean of student affairs; Henrietta Ugboh, non-executive director, UBA; Sunday Abayomi, executive director of the University of Lagos Business School; and Bolajoko Dixon-Ogbechi, chairperson of the board of the International School, University of Lagos.

They shared a common commitment to advancing innovative solutions that can improve the quality of learning for the next generation.

Kabarole PDM beneficiaries seek reforms for enterprise growth

Beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Kabarole District have asked the government to review the selection of recipients, arguing that people who already have enterprises are better placed to turn the government financing into sustainable businesses.

The beneficiaries, who have invested their PDM funds in onion growing, poultry and piggery, say the money has helped them expand enterprises they were already running to generate more income and invest in other businesses.

They, however, say the success of their enterprises has largely depended on prior experience, access to markets, availability of inputs and their ability to inject additional capital.

Mr Patrick Mugume, a resident of Busaiga Village in Harugongo Sub-county, Kabarole District, received Shs1 million under PDM in 2023, which he invested in an onion growing enterprise he had started years earlier.

He says he used the money, which he received through the Busaiga Sacco, to expand his garden from one acre to 2.5 acres.

‘When I received PDM money, I bought seven sacks of onion seedlings at Shs75,000 each, totalling to Shs525,000. I used the remaining balance to prepare the garden and nursery bed. For the first season, I planted onions on 1.5 acres,’ he said.

Mr Mugume said he acquired additional money to buy pesticides and pay labour for weeding. After harvesting and selling his onions, he made Shs9 million.

He said the returns encouraged him to expand the enterprise. The following season, he increased the seedlings from seven to 12 sacks, investing Shs900,000 in total.

Mr Mugume says each season, he harvests between 25 and 30 sacks of onions. To improve his earnings, however, he sells the onions in bundles.

In the last season, mid this year, he said he was selling a bundle at Shs4,000, and he made Shs19 million.

Since receiving the PDM money in 2023, Mr Mugume said he has had four harvesting seasons. He made Shs9 million in the first season, Shs15 million in the second, Shs17 million in the third, and Shs19 million in the fourth.

Mr Mugume said he used proceeds from the onion business to buy a plot of land and venture into dairy farming and poultry.

It is against this background that Mr Mugume suggested that the government should consider reforms in selecting PDM beneficiaries, arguing that people who already have enterprises should be prioritised.

‘If someone is poor and you give them Shs1 million, they will prioritise paying debts, but if someone has a business, the PDM money will be additional to his capital. I am now preparing my garden; the investment for this season is: 14 sacks of seedlings at Shs1,050,000, Shs1 million on pesticides and about Shs700,000 on weeding,’ he said.

Likewise, Mr George Mutabazi, a farmer from Kaihokwa Village in Kabarole District, said from the Shs1 million he received under PDM, he used Shs400,000 to buy a piglet, while the rest of the money went towards feeds and constructing its shelter.

He said the pig has since given birth five times, and he has been able to raise over Shs4 million from piglet sales, part of which he used to improve the shelter and acquire others. He now has more than 30 pigs.

Mr Friday Patrick, a poultry farmer from Kirere Village in Kabarole District, said he received Shs980,000 under PDM in 2023.

By the time he received the money, he already had about 200 chickens at home, but his immediate challenge was the feeds.

‘When I received the money, I waited for maize farmers to harvest, and after I bought two tonnes of maize feed and stocked up. I have layers and they have since increased to 850,’ he said.

He said having enough feed helped him maintain his poultry enterprise and increase egg production. He now collects between 20 and 24 trays of eggs a day, with each tray selling at Shs12,500.

Like the other beneficiaries, Mr Patrick believes PDM works better for people who already have experience in an enterprise.

‘People who have not benefited from PDM are those who selected an enterprise after receiving money. But for us who are successful, it is because we have experience in this enterprise before. If you are poor and get PDM money, chances are that the money will be channelled to other things,’ he said.

Mr Kenneth Mzora, the PDM coordinator for Kabarole District local government, said the district has received Shs21 billion from the central government to capitalise PDM Saccos, with Shs18 billion already disbursed to about 18,000 beneficiaries.

He said the district has started recovering the funds, which are intended to operate as a revolving fund so that recovered money can be given to other beneficiaries.

Mr Mzora said the district has also introduced measures intended to strengthen accountability and governance within the PDM Saccos.

He said Kabarole was recently selected as a centre of excellence for PDM implementation, with focal persons from different regions visiting the district to learn practices that could be replicated elsewhere.

‘We have seven pillars under PDM that we are implementing here, but specifically, they have come to learn about the financial inclusion sector, and they want to see how we are doing it in Kabarole, so that they can go and replicate it in their areas,’ Mr Mzora said.

Mr Mzora said Kabarole had so far recovered Shs62 million from beneficiaries out of Shs18 billion disbursed.

Fundamental gains

Mr Patrick Mugume, a resident of Busaiga Village in Harugongo Sub-county, Kabarole District, received Shs1 million under PDM in 2023, which he invested in an onion growing enterprise. Since receiving the PDM money he has had four harvesting seasons. He made Shs9 million in the first season, Shs15 million in the second, Shs17 million in the third, and Shs19 million in the fourth.

Islamic bank vows to back MSMEs eyeing halal mart

THE Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines (AAIIBP) pledged financing to micro-sized, small-scale and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) seeking to be part of the multitrillion-dollar global halal industry.

A statement issued by the state-owned Islamic bank quoted CEO Amenah F. Pangandaman as saying they are still determining how much the lender can set aside for halal-related financing as it works with other government agencies to expand support for the industry.

Due to strict adherence to high-quality and health standards, more Muslims and non-Muslims are choosing halal products. The value of the global halal industry is expected to grow from its current estimate of $4 trillion to $10 trillion by 2030.

‘We should not miss the boat. There is so much room for growth-growth to show that halal is more than just a dietary restriction in observance of our faith. But it is an opportunity to push forward economic development alongside inclusivity,’ Pangandaman said.

Supply gap

THE Philippines’s continued reliance on imports, with more than $100-million worth of halal products having been brought into the country over the past few years, have created a supply gap, according to the AAIIBP chairman.

‘We have the demand to fill, we have our people to do the job, we have a huge market waiting for us, but without the capital-the financing-it will always be an arduous task to get out of that niche market concept attached to halal,’ Pangandaman added.

However, she noted that financing barriers, such as costs related to certification, facility and production upgrades, make it hard for MSMEs to enter the halal market.

‘Financing for our MSMEs must support the entire value chain. It is not enough that we provide their capital for production, as it is still a long journey as we move toward certification, logistics, scaling up and eventually exporting,’ Pangandaman said.

Expansion plans

BEYOND providing capital for MSMEs, the bank has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Trade and Industry to finance halal expansion, including facilities for halal slaughterhouses and accreditation fees.

The bank has also partnered with the Cooperative Development Authority to support the expansion of cooperatives involved in the halal sector.

Moreover, the AAIIBP and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has agreed to pursue a memorandum of understanding to support MSMEs and halal certifying organizations with Islamic financing.

‘There is no denying that halal certification, here and elsewhere, can be difficult, extensive and costly for MSMEs, but the returns for both consumers and businesses are also abundant,’ Pangandaman said. ‘As we work toward accessible and understandable certification, we must also put in mind that it should not become an unnecessary hurdle for our MSMEs.’

MSMEs consist 99.5 percent of the country’s business establishments, providing 63 percent of total employment and are the closest to local communities.

As stipulated in the Philippine Halal Industry Development Strategic Plan, the government aims to secure P230 billion in investments by 2028, double the number of halal-certified products and services to 6,000 and create 120,000 jobs.

BI intercepts 4 Russia-bound Pinoys

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) intercepted four Filipino passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) who were identified as potential victims of human trafficking after allegedly being recruited for jobs in Russia.

The four were intercepted in separate incidents at Naia Terminal 1 on September 18 and 19 after primary immigration officers referred them for further verification of their declared travel purposes, the BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section said.

On Sept. 18, three men, identified as ‘Aldo,’ 30; ‘Nery,’ 41; and ‘Baby,’ 38, were traveling together and declared Thailand as their destination.

During secondary inspection, Aldo allegedly disclosed that Russia was his actual destination and that he had been recruited through a Facebook post to work as a security guard for a promised monthly salary of P70,000.

Nery reportedly said he was recruited by an unidentified individual in Bangkok, while Baby said his trip was sponsored by a person identified as ‘Alexander.’

On Sept. 19, immigration officers intercepted another passenger, identified as ‘King,’ 34, who was traveling to Vietnam aboard Philippine Airlines.

During further verification, King allegedly disclosed that Russia was his intended final destination and that he had been recruited for military service there.

He reportedly said he was promised a monthly salary of P150,000, citizenship after one year and additional bonuses for completing a special mission.

King also presented a concealed Russian visa and reportedly said he did not pay for his travel expenses.

The four passengers were assessed as potential victims of human trafficking and turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further assessment, investigation and assistance.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado urged Filipinos seeking overseas employment to verify job offers through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and its licensed recruitment agencies.

‘Filipinos should exercise extreme caution when dealing with online job offers, particularly those that promise unusually high salaries, immediate deployment, or other benefits without proper documentation,’ Viado said.

He urged prospective overseas workers to verify recruitment agencies and job orders through official DMW channels before accepting employment offers or traveling abroad.

The BI, an Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacar) member, urged the public to report suspected human trafficking and illegal recruitment through its hotline at (+632) 8-465-2400 or its official email addresses.

Reports may also be made to other concerned government agencies.

PM eyes stronger Japan ties

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday urged Thailand and Japan to move from producing goods for one another to producing them together, saying closer supply-chain ties would help sustain Japanese investment as the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles.

He made the remarks while meeting Team Thailand in Tokyo to outline policy on bilateral relations before travelling from Japan to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Anutin said technology, the environment and geopolitics were key drivers of change, requiring Thailand and Japan to base their future cooperation on mutual interests and work as partners by combining their respective strengths.

“The key is to move from producing ‘for’ each other to producing ‘together’ and becoming part of each other’s supply chains,” he said.

His remarks appeared intended to address concerns that Japanese companies could shift production bases out of Thailand.

“The form of cooperation and investment might have changed from the past, but Japanese investment remains important to Thailand,” he said.

“Thailand is now going through a transition and becoming more closely connected with global markets. While this may make the country appear less dependent on Japan in some areas, it does not mean Thailand has lost its production capabilities.”

Thailand has become more diversified in investment sources, technology, and international cooperation, while developing its own infrastructure and industrial capabilities.

“In the automotive sector, decades of cooperation with Japan have helped establish a strong supply chain, with many automotive parts produced domestically,” he said.

However, the shift to electric vehicles has transformed the competition, with investors from other countries entering the battery, electronics and semiconductor sectors. He said cooperation with Japan would likely take the form of direct investment.

Thailand should build on its existing manufacturing base and develop supply chains that can support future industries, particularly digital technology, electronics and other advanced technologies, he said.

“This would create opportunities for Thai businesses to join higher-value production chains,” he said.

He said Japanese businesses remain interested in Thailand and the region, and the country should use its long-standing ties with Japan to expand investment in existing supply chains while developing higher-value industries.

’Access to financial services lacking in some PHL sectors’

WHILE financial exclusion fell from 56 percent in 2017 to 19 percent in 2025, a central bank official pointed out that lack of access to banking and financial services remains rampant in agriculture, youth and informal sectors.

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Deputy Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector, emphasized that behind these numbers are millions more people who can open an account, make a digital payment, save safely and connect to formal financial services.

‘But as I mentioned before, access is only a starting point,’ Romulo-Puyat said during the ‘Asean-EU Business Summit 2026,’ thus, raising these questions: ‘Can a family meet its daily needs and still prepare for an emergency? Can a farmer recover after a bad harvest? or can workers save for old age?’

As such, another central bank official divulged which segments are still ‘financially excluded’ in the country.

Mynard Bryan R. Mojica, Director for Financial Inclusion Office at the BSP, said in terms of segments, financial exclusion is ‘still very high’ among farmers, the youth and informal workers.

‘So in terms of segments where financial exclusion is still very high, we’re looking at the agriculture sector, the farmers, where you have around 3 out of 10 farmers are [financially] included. So 7 out of 10 are excluded. You also have interestingly-the youth sector also has a large exclusion, because even if they are tech savvy, they have smartphones. They use that smartphone not for financial transactions, but basically for social media.And then you have the informal sector workers,’ Mojica said during the summit.

At the individual level, Mojica said the central bank still sees ‘lack of money’ as the main reason why many Filipinos are financially excluded.

‘So if you have a limited disposable income, where is the ownership in that puzzle? And of course, as a central bank, we can only do so much in terms of addressing that lack of money problem,’ added the BSP official.

Meanwhile, Romulo-Puyat explained that the central bank is not only working on expanding financial access in the country. Beyond this, she said the BSP also aims to ‘measure and improve financial health’ in the country.

‘Missing layer of protection’

WITH insurance remaining a ‘missing layer of protection’ among many households and businesses, the BSP deputy governor said the central bank is set to expand access to insurance through banks by updating its bancassurance guidelines.

‘Banks already have trusted relationships with their clients. By making it easier for them to offer appropriate insurance because alongside banking products and services, we can help more families get insurance. At the end of the day, this is really about giving people greater confidence in their future,’ added Romulo-Puyat.

On the sidelines of the summit, she told reporters that the updated bancassurance guidelines were slated to be released this year to give banks more options to provide insurance products outside their own conglomerates.

‘It should be this year. Now, it’s within the conglomerate but we’re expanding it. It’s really supposed to be for this year, the exposure to expand bancassurance,’ added Romulo-Puyat.

As to what has caused the delay of the issuance of guidelines, she added: ‘I’m sure not that major because we are pushing for it. I don’t think anybody will be against it. Because it’s just giving banks more options…to provide insurance.’

Lithuania backs constitutional changes on foreign military presence

Lithuania’s Seimas has approved at first reading a constitutional amendment that would remove the provision banning weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases from the country’s territory. The vote took place on September 22.

Under the proposal, Article 137 of Lithuania’s Constitution would be repealed. The article currently states that weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases may not be located on Lithuanian territory.

According to Lithuanian media, the amendment received 99 votes in favor, 13 against, while five lawmakers abstained.

The proposed change still requires further approval. Under Lithuania’s constitutional procedure, amendments must receive at least 94 votes in three separate votes, with an interval of at least three months between the votes.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, who initiated the proposal, said NATO’s nuclear deterrence is an important component of the alliance’s collective defense architecture. He argued that Lithuania’s security environment has changed significantly since the Constitution was adopted and that the country should be able to participate fully in NATO’s deterrence system.

Under Article 137 of Lithuania’s Constitution, weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases currently cannot be stationed on Lithuanian territory.

Aurigue’s double-double keys Lyceum win

‘Just get those rebounds.’

Those were the instructions that big man Lance Aurigue followed to the letter from Lyceum coach Jamike Jarin in lifting the Pirates to a pulsating, come-from-behind 88-87 victory over Mapua yesterday in NCAA Season 102 at the PhilSports Arena.

Aurigue did pluck those rebounds like picking apples from a three and finished with a game-high 13 including four offensively late in the fourth quarter that led to scoring opportunities for him – nine points in total – in the clutch that propelled LPU to its first win in two starts.

‘He was just huge for us,’ said Jarin of Arique, who ended up firing 21 points, another match-best.

Lyceum also produced a couple of heroes in Renz Villegas, who scattered 17 points, and Matthew Rubico, who had 15 markers including a booming triple from way, way deep.

It was another heartbreaker for the Cardinals, as they blew another one following last week’s 64-65 defeat to the Jose Rizal Bombers at the Filoil Center.

The duel wasn’t pretty, though, as both squads missed 23 free throws – 11 from LPU and 12 from Mapua – but it cost the Cardinals even more as they couldn’t cash in on their opportunities for the second straight outing.

Mapua had one last chance to steal the win but Sherwin Concepcion misfired his last-gasp attempt from beyond the arc.

Later, Perpetual Help trounced San Sebastian, 86-74, to improve to 2-1. The Stags dropped to 0-3.